Breastfeeding could cut a new mum’s risk of womb cancer by around 11 per cent, experts believe

But, beyond six to nine months, experts in Australia who reviewed 17 studies, found no extra benefit.

Dr Susan Jordan, who led the study at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, said: “Cancer of the uterus is becoming more common and we need to try and prevent it.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women across developed nations, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

In the UK, around 9,000 women are diagnosed each year, according to Cancer Research UK.

Dr Jordan said: “The more women know about the things they can do to reduce their risks of future cancer diagnoses, the better.

“Although this piece of evidence by itself may not convince women to breastfeed, it contributes to the overall picture of health gains that can come from breastfeeding.”

The World Health Organization and NHS recommends that women exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their baby’s life, then continue breastfeeding even after beginning to introduce solid foods.

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Researchers looked at the medical records of more than 26,000 women who had had a child.

The pool of women included those who had breastfed for various lengths of time, and others who hadn’t.

Of the 26,000 women, around 9,000 were diagnosed with womb cancer.

The experts took into account other factors that can affect a woman’s risk of getting womb cancer.

The findings, published in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, showed risk reduction linked to breastfeeding was 28 per cent in women born after 1950.

But, the same wasn’t found for those born before 1950, which may reflect differences in breastfeeding practices.

The authors said while it’s not proof breastfeeding helps protect against womb cancer, “it’s plausible”.

It’s not always possible for women to breastfeed, so it should also be noted that just because a woman chooses not to or can’t breastfeed, it doesn’t mean she’ll go on to develop cancer

Dr Susan JordanQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane

Growth of endometrial cancer is stimulated by oestrogen, which is suppressed during breastfeeding.

Dr Jordan told Reuters Health: “The message is not only relevant for women making decisions about breastfeeding but also for society to understand the benefits so we can support women to breastfeed for reasonably long periods of time.

“However, it’s not always possible for women to breastfeed, so it should also be noted that just because a woman chooses not to or can’t breastfeed, it doesn’t mean she’ll go on to develop cancer.”

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